Snap-switch.



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M! I Q@ Patened Mar, 2l, 1911 /1 I I 74M @Hazme in v @ha umfrnn srrrrnsPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ir. KLEIN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

'SNAP-SWITCH.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Application filed September 2f), 1907, Serial No. 393,794. RenewedOctober 24, 1910. Serial No. $8,784.

1b ad 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Cunnmzs J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSnap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in certain respects to a mechanical movement andmore particularly to an electric snap switch including three members,oneya member carrying the switch contact and suitably connected withaliXed support, another a cam,J and a third, a resilient tension memberwhich, in

the particular' form illustrated, consists of a helical spring engagingthe cam and connected to the` switch member. The parts are so arrangedand operated inA such a manner that when a relative movement between camand spring is produced the spring is put under tension, and in theparticular embodiment illustrated, moves quickly along the engaging faceof the cam pulling on the switch member with a sudden jerk and causingthe switch-to open and close with a snap action.

The object ot' this invent-ion is to providev a device incorporating itsessential features in a simple and inexpensive construction which may beadapted to many and various uses and whichshall be positive in itsoperation to effectively accomplish the desired re` Other objects willbe in part obvious and will in part appear hereinafter iu connectionwith 'the specific embodiment herein sho'wn.

'lhc adaptability oi' thc invention to many other uses in addition tothat shown will. be obvious.

To illustrate my invention l have herein shown and described a simpleform of an electric switch which is adapted for use in the usual mannerin connection with circuitsI iu which a quick break is desired.

ln the drawings accompany/ing lhisspeci'- Afication like parts have beengiven the same reference numbers in (he several views.

Figure l is a plan view ot a simple, form of knife switch. Fig. 2 is aside elevation ol'i Fig. l.

` At 1 is shown a base, which may be of iusulating material, uponWhichare mounted two Contact blades 2 means of suitable posts 3. Theseblades 2 are joined by a connect-ing member or cross-bar of insulatingmaterial. to which is attached .a resilient member in the form of acoiled spring 5 which is attached at either lend 6 thereof to thecross-bar 4.

An operating member 7 is mounted in the ber is moved.

ride over this tapered portion as said 4mem- Contact clips 8 providedwith. suitable ,line terminals are .provided and arranged.

so that when the blades 2 are in their closed position, as shown indotted out-line in-Fig..`

The central portion of' 2, the circuit. willbe closed from the p osts 3lthrough the' blades 2 to the contact clips 8. Retaining members 9 and10 are mounted upon a suitable insulating support l and canse theresilient member 5 to ride over the tapered portions of the operatingmember 7 as the same is moved, as will be described hereinafter.

The operation of the device is as follows: lrssuming the parts to standin the open position'as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, theoperalingmember 7 is raised to the p0- sition shown in dotted outline, causingthe resilient member 5 to engage the retaining member i.) and to rideover the high portion of the conical part of. the operating member 7thus extending vthe spring and putt-ing thev same under tension. As soonas this high pointhas passed the tension of the spring causes the sameto move quickly downward over the opposite conical portion of theoperating member 7 and carries with it the blades, causing the same toswing about their pivots on the posts 3 and close the circuitihrough thecontact clips 8. To open the device the operation is reversed by movingthe operating member 7 downward, the resilient member 5 engaging theretaining fg i member 10 and riding over the conical poii tion of theoperating membei` 7 in the manof the members 5 and 2 in the oppositedirection.

It will be understood that the movement of the member 7 may beaccomplished in various Ways depending i' upon the use to l' which thedevice is ut. It'will also be noted that the straig t line movement ofthe operating member 7 is transformed into a swinging movement of athird member about a fixed" pivot.

It will beA understood that my invention may be applied to devices forvarious uses other than the one shown and described herein and that I donot confine myself to this or any other: particular embodiment ofthesam'e. It is further and particularly to be understood that I do notconfine myself to any specific details of construe-tion.

As many changes ,in construction and many apparently widely di'erentembodiments of my invention could be designed "Without departing fromthe scope thereof,

I 'intend 4that all matter contained in the above description or shownin the accomanying drawin s shall be interpreted as illustrative mere yof an operative embodiment of my invention and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is: v 1. In combination, a fixed support, a cam having aninclined face, a member pivoted to said fixed support, and a tensionspring.

having a portion surrounding and engaging said inclined face of said camand connected to said pivoted member to' cause said mem- -ber to move.

2. Incombination, a fixed support, a cam member having an inclined face,a. member pivoted to said fixed support, ahelical spring engaging saidincline face of said cam inem and connected to said pivoted member andcausing said member to inove.

connecting with said pivoted member and having one or more of its coilsengaging said cam member, and a switch contact associated with saidpivotcd member and actuated thereby.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a fixed support, a cam havingoppositely inclined faces, a switch member pivot-ally mounted upon saidfixed support, a helical tension spring having one or more coilsengaging said cam and operatively connected to said switch.V 6. In aswitch incclianisni, in combination, a fixed support, a frame, a movablecani member in the form of a double conibal frustuin, a switch memberpivotally mounted A upon said fixed support, a helical spring surjrounding the cam member and operatively Q connected with said switchmember.

7. A mechanical movement comprising a xcd support, a camhavingopp'ositely inclined faces, a member pivotally mounted upon saidfixed support, a tension spring having a portion surrounding andengaging said cam and connected with said pivoted member, said pivotedmember being moved by a coaction between said three members, and meanswhereby said cam is moved'to shift one of said inclined faces fromengagement with said 'spi-ing, and to bring the other face intoengagement therewith.

8. In an electric snap switch, the combination of a fixed support, areciprocating n'ieinber, a cam actuated thereby, a tension spring havinga portion surroundin and engaging said `cani, the engaging portion ofsaid spring brain;r bodily movable with rela tion to said cam, a switchmembermcvably secured to 'd tixcd support, means connecting saidsuv'itch member and spring, the parts being so constructed and arrangedthat the recipiocation of said cani places said spring under tension andproduces ay quick snap action of said switch rncinben 9. In an ciectricsnap switch, the combination of a fixed support, a reciprocating member,a cam actuated thereby, a tension spring having a. portion surroundingand engaging said cam, the engaging portion of said spring being bodilymovable with relation to said cani, retaining .members for said spring,a switch member movably secured to said fixed support, means connectingsaid switcl'i member and spring, the parts being so constructed andarranged that the reciprocation of said cam places said spring undertension and produces a quick snap action of said switchA member.

10. In an electric snap switch, the conibination of a fixed support, areciprocating member, cam actuated thereby, a helical tension springengaging said cam, the engaging portion of said spring being -bodilymovable with relation to said cam, a switch member movablv secured tosaid fixed support, means connecting said switch member the p being soconsiruf r ed that the reci irocation. oi'

'cam places said spring under tension and 'niemben -11. In an electricSnap switch, the combination of a fixed support, a reciprocating member,a cam having faces inclined with relation to eac-h other and actuatedthereby, a tension spring having a portion surrounding and engaging saidcam, the engaging portion ofnsaid spring being bodily movable withrelation to said cani, a switch member morably secured to said fixedsupport, means `Connecting said switch member and spring, the partsbeing so constructed and arranged that the reci procation of said camplaces said spring under tension and produces a quick snap action ofsaid switch member.

12. l'n an electric snap switch, the combination of a fixed support, areciprocating member, guides for said reciprocatlng membei', a camactuated by said member, a ten- Iii sion spring having a portionsurrounding and engaging said cam, the engaging portion of said springbeing bodily movable with relation toA said cani, a switch memberiii/.ivablyaecured to said fixed support, means n.nniecting said switchmember and spring, the parts being so constructed and arranged that thereciprocation of said cani places said spring under tension and producesa quick snap action of said switch member.

i3. ln an electric snap switch, the combination of a fixed support, areciprocating member`v guides for said reciprocating meinbei', saidguides forming stops to limit the movements of said member, a camactuated by said member, a tension' spring having a portion surroundingand engaging said cam, the engaging portion of said spring being lmdilymovable with relation to said cani, a switch member movably secured tosaid fixed suppprt, means connecting said switch member and spring, theparts being so constructed and arranged that the recifn'ocation of saidCain places said .spring undei:V tension and prodi" a quick snap actionof said .switch zncmocr.

il. In an electric snap switch, the combination of a fixed support, areciprocating member, guides for said reci pro':.a.ting membei', saidguides forming stops to limit the nuivement of said spring, a camactuated by said member, a tension .spring having a portion surroundingand engaging said cam, thevengaging portion of said spring being bodilymovable with relation to .said cam, a switch member mova bly secured tosaid fixed support, means connecting said switch meinber and spring. thepars being so constructed and arranged that the lreciprocation of saidcani places said spring under tension and produces a quick snap actionof said 15. ln an electric snap switch, the combiinclined face, aswitchlmember pivotally connected with said-xed support, a tensionspring havino a portion surrounding and engaging said inclined face andconnected to said switch member and retainin membersl to limit themovement of sai spring.

1 6. In ,an electric snap switch, the combination of a xed support, areciprocating cam having an inclined face, a switch niember pivotallyconnected with said support, a bodily movable tension spring engagingsaid inclined face and connected to said switch member and retainingmembers to limit the movement of said spring.

17. In an electric snap switch, the combination of a fixed support, areciprocating cam having an inclined face, a switch inember pivotallyconnected with said support, a helical, coiled, tension spring embracingand engaging said inclined face and connected to said switch member, andmeans to limit the movement of said spring.

18.`An electrical switch comprising a fixed support, a cam havingoppositely inclined faces, means for moving said cam, a switch memberpivoted upon said support, a connection between said member and said camincluding a tension spring having a port-ion connected with said memberand adapted to be put under tension by the movement` of said cam,thereby actuating said switch member with a snap action.

19. An electrical switch comprising a fixed support, a reciprocating camhaving oppositely inclined faces, a switch memberv pivoted upon saidfixed support, a yielding connection between said member and said camincludingl a tension spiing having a portion connected with said memberand adapted to be put under tension by the movement of said cam, therebyactuating said switch member with a snap action.

20. An electrical Switch comprising `a fixed su port,a reciprocating camhaving opposite.)T inclined faces, said cam having secured at each end apush button for recipro iating said cam, a switch member pivotallysecured 'to said support, said cam be- 'ng arranged between said pivotand the end ot said switch men'iber, a yielding connection between saidmember and said cam, including a tension .spring having a portionconnectcd with .said member and adapted to be put under tension by themovement of said cam, thereby actuating said Switch with a .snap action.

21. An electrical switch comprising a fixed support, a pair of switchblades each 4pivotally connected with said support, a

reciprocating cam, said cam having oppositely inclined faces and havinga push button at each end and arranged between said blades, a cross barconnecting said blades and a yielding connection including a tensaidcross bar, said spring surrounding said cam, and adapted to be put undertension by the movement of said cam thereby actuating said switch with asnap action.

22. An electrical switch /coinprising a fixed support, a pairV of-switchblades each pivotally connected with said support, a cross barconnecting said blades, a reciprocatinor cam, said cam having oppositelyincline faces and having a push button at each end and arranged between-said blades and between the pivotal supports and the cross bar, and ayielding connection including a tension spring having a portionconneet-cd with said cross bar, said spring surrounding said cam, andadapted to be put under tension by' the movement of said cam therebyactuating said switch with a snap action.

Signed at the city of New York in the county of New York and State ofNew York this 19th day of Sepr. A. D. 1907.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

